-Isms: Original views on life in rural America

I've been thinking lately about a comment I hear others say repeatedly: "I'm not creative."

Yeah, I'm bad about saying it, too. I'll look at a piece of artwork and wish I could paint or draw or whatever medium like those artists.

I'm a painter of words. I've been known to tell others that a time or two.

Usually, I end up saying my mom possessed the artist talent in our family and it's obvious Courtney inherited it.

Somehow, it skipped my generation.

Truth be told, everyone has creativity. It's how we channel that mindset, push its boundaries and develop ideas that sets creative levels apart.

I also think if you don't use it, you lose it. Kind of like that Spanish minor I earned in college.

(Side note: I used it once, 30 years after college. Scott asked me to give Jose a message. I working on the wording and, as I'm standing in the milk barn, Jose looks at me and all I can utter is, "Quieres una cerveza?" The message was not, "Want a beer?")

Creativity plays an important role in self-expression. (I could've been a bit more creative with my Spanish-speaking skills, obviously.)

Fine-tuning creativity is good way to develop your brain's right side. Whether those creative endeavors are wordplay, sculpting, painting, acting or music, creativity allows you an outlet to present your point of view. Creativity also can be used in other disciplines, like engineering, science, math and technology.

By developing newfound skills, you'll be able to tap into creativity to assist with critical thinking and analytical skills and apply outside-the-box solutions. For my left-brained friends, practicing creativity provides an opportunity to realize there may be more than one way to solve a problem.

How can you boost creativity?

If you build it, they will come. "Field of Dreams" may come to mind, but the theme of that movie rings true. Constructing a physical example of a concept is one of the best ways to develop creativity. Your model may not resemble a classic Rodin piece - or a baseball diamond in a cornfield - but it will help define your vision.

When I'm in a creative rut, I like to start a conversation with others. Listening to someone else's point of view opens new channels of thinking. It forces you to listen and analyze, draw assumptions and make decisions. It requires higher-level thinking skills, not just decision-making based on basic knowledge.

I'm a fan of lists. It's an easy way to come up with ideas. Plus, putting pen to paper and constructing a list puts tangible items in front of you. Then you can select one of those items and build on it.

Creativity is considered the "skill of the future." I believe our education system needs to promote creativity, foster it as a vessel for problem solving. By cultivating creativity, we may be surprised at what world-wide problems may be solved.

I'm curious how you cultivate the creative process, whether in your personal life or workspace. Drop me a line - or list - of your ideas at [email protected].

Now, I'm going to take a five-minute break. It's a perfect way to foster the creative mind.